“One tragedy at a time?” I stepped closer. “What else is going on?”
Circuit frowned. “Have you talked to Misha?”
“I did right before he got on the plane and left for Paris.” I turned to Yefim. “What else is going on?”
My guard replied, “Valentina and her daughter were kidnapped by Leonid Turgenev.”
“The baby?” I widened my eyes. “Where are they?”
Circuit spoke. “We have people on that. But not as many as we have on getting the Mouse back. We’re already dividing this by three ways—finding the Devil, searching for the French, and figuring out where Valentina is kept.”
I gestured to the phone. “What did Misha want you to do?”
“He wants me to go to the Xecutioners and ask for their help in getting Valentina and the baby back.” Circuit’s hands shook. “I can’t. I’m a tech man, not a gangster. I don’t even know how to shoot a gun.”
I glanced at all the gun battles on the screens. “Where are the Xecutioners?”
“Why?”
I looked back at Circuit. “I can talk to them. They know me.”
Well. . .they were going to kill me. . .so that counts as them knowing me.
“That is a bad idea.” Circuit’s face went red. “I mean. . .but. . .they are on our side now, but what if they aren’t?”
“They’re with us. That was the last thing Misha said to me. And if he was going to have you go over there, then he knew you would be safe. He needs you—”
“Not as much as he needs you.”
“Misha hid them. Do you know where?”
“This is a bad idea, Ava.” Circuit shook his head. “Just go back to your room.”
“Look. I know it’s a bit crazy, but why would he send you instead of one of his men?”
“I don’t know, because I would look harmless and believable?”
“Exactly. And I look harmless and believable. Plus, they know my face. They may not know yours. And all of Misha’s men are hiding them, which means I should be safe.”
Yefim spoke, “And I’ll be with her.”
Circuit glared at him. “Yefim, you should be with me on this, buddy. If you get her killed or hurt, Misha is going to do disgusting things to you.”
With no fear, Yefim nodded. “Which is why I will make sure she is safe.”
I gestured to all the chaos around us. “I just want to help. And right now, I agree with what you told Misha on the phone. You need to be in here, making sure that everyone is found. I can go and deliver a message to the Xecutioners.”
Circuit paced. “We should call Misha. Granted, he is on the plane and the reception has been shit. Kazimir keeps calling too and—”
“This will be quick, Circuit. Give me the address for the Xecutioners. I go, ask for their help, and return.”
Circuit stopped pacing. “We have to get this approved by Misha.”
“Misha is in the air and he’ll say no but in the end, you and I know that I can help.”
Circuit directed his attention to Yefim. “How many men can you get to protect her?”
Yefim considered it. “Ten down here. Ten up above. I could get ten more to follow us. Plus, whatever of Misha’s men are at the bunker where the Xecutioners are.”
I shrugged. “I’ll be more protected than anybody today.”
“I’m going to regret this.” Circuit went over to a desk, pulled out silver earrings, and handed it to me. “You need to wear these and keep it on the whole time.”
“What is this?”
“A tracker.”
“You just happen to have earrings with trackers in your desk?”
“I give a pair to a girlfriend or boyfriend when I have one. . .or both.”
“You like to track them?”
“Of course.”
I shook my head. “Misha and you have problems.”
“You just focus on wearing those damn earrings!”
“Got it.” I held them. “Okay. And the address?”
“I’ll give it to Yefim.” He pointed at my nightgown. “How about you get dressed? We don’t have much time.”
“You’re right.” I hurried off.
I knew Misha would hate this plan, but it could work. Due to me, he let a lot of stuff get out of hand. Even more, Leonid would have never taken Valentina and Misha’s daughter, if not for Misha protecting me. Due to that, I had to do more than pirouette and look pretty. Misha needed people to put out all the fires threatening to consume him.
I’ll talk to the Xecutioners. From what Misha has told me about them. . .they’re reasonable.
I did a quick clean up and searched for something to wear. One of the biggest things that I remembered about Misha’s story on the Xecutioners was that they appreciated a well-dressed person. Therefore, I pulled out an Alexander McQueen pants suit. It was all black and exuded dark romantic opulence. Shimmering crystals embellished the black single-breasted crepe blazer.
This may be over the top, but at least it will make more of an impression than jeans and sneakers.